Open-end spinning machine with a plurality of spinning units and with at least one servicing device

Abstract

A servicing device is provided for cleaning spinning rotors and spinning rotor housings of an open-end spinning machine. The servicing device includes a combined suction and blower device which alternately applies compressed air and suction forces to loosen and to withdraw fiber residues and the like from the spinning rotor and the housing. The servicing device is a mobile unit movable along a plurality of spinning units and includes a mechanism for opening the covers to the individual housings so as to expose the open sides of the spinning rotors to the combined suction and blowing device which is movable into position to perform cleaning operations. In order to assure control of the suction and blowing of cleaning air during cleaning operations, the cleaning device includes a suction flange which covers the housing of the spinning rotor in the manner of a lid when in the servicing position.

I claim: 
     
       1. Open-end spinning apparatus including a servicng device for servicing individual spinning units of an open-end spinning machine of the type having a spinning unit with a spinning rotor disposed in a housing; said servicing device including: a suction device,   and suction device moving means for moving said suction device toward a spinning rotor to a servicing position where said suction device can remove fiber residues and the like from the spinning rotor by applying suction thereto.   wherein a suction portion of said suction device includes a flange which contacts the housing surrounding the spinning rotor in the manner of a lid when in said servicing position.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said servicing device includes a vacuum source, wherein said suction device includes means for connecting said flange to said vacuum source such that said suction device applies a higher suction force to said spinning rotor and said housing than is applied to said housing and rotor during normal spinning operations. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said open-end spinning machine includes a plurality of spinning units having respective housings and spinning rotors disposed therein, each of said housings having cover means for covering said spinning rotors during spinning operations, and wherein said servicing device includes means for moving said cover means to a position permitting access to said rotor by said suction device, said flange contacting the housing at the side of the housing where said cover means is disposed during spinning operations. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a blower device combined with and movable with said suction device to form a combined blower and suction device, said blower device including means for blowing compressed air into the spinning rotor and housing to aid in loosening fiber residues and the like. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said servicing device includes a vacuum source, wherein said suction device includes means for connecting said flange to said vacuum source such that said suction device applies a higher suction force to said spinning rotor and said housing than is applied to said housing and rotor during normal spinning operations. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a blower portion of the combined blower and suction device comprises at least one nozzle for ejecting an air jet into a fiber collecting groove of the spinning rotor to be cleaned. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the at least one nozzle of the blower portion are oriented in the peripheral direction of the fiber collecting groove of the spinning rotor in opposition to the direction of rotation of the spinning rotor. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the blowing direction of the at least one nozzle comprises a component oriented toward the suction portion of the combined blower and suction device. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the blowing direction of the at least one nozzle comprises a component oriented toward the suction portion of the combined blower and suction device. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the combined blower and suction device is provided with a cover member which, when the blower and suction device is in a servicing position, is placed in front of an opening of the housing by way of which the housing is connected to a vacuum source during spinning operations. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the combined blower and suction device is provided with a cover member which, when the blower and suction device is in a servicing position, is placed in front of an opening of the housing by way of which the housing is connected to a vacuum source during spinning operations. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the combined blower and suction device is provided with a cover member which, when the blower and suction device is in a servicing position, is placed in front of an opening of the housing by way of which the housing is connected to a vacuum source during spinning operations. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the blower portion of the combined blower and suction device comprises at least one nozzle oriented into a space between the outside of the spinning rotor to be cleaned and the associated housing when in a servicing position. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the blower portion comprises at least one nozzle oriented toward ventilating bores of the spinning rotor to be cleaned. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the blower portion comprises at least one nozzle oriented toward ventilating bores of the spinning rotor to be cleaned. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the flange of the suction portion, which flange surrounds the rim of the housing encompassing the spinning rotor to be cleaned, narrows in the manner of a funnel toward a connection for a vacuum line. 
     
     
       17. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flange of the suction portion, which flange surrounds the rim of the housing encompassing the spinning rotor to be cleaned, narrows in the manner of a funnel toward a connection for a vacuum line. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the funnel-like flange consists of an elastic material. 
     
     
       19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the funnel-like flange consists of an elastic material. 
     
     
       20. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein an elastically movable flap is attached to the flange of the suction portion, this flap being introducible into the housing and positionable in front of the connection of a vacuum conduit for applying vacuum to said housing during spinning operations. 
     
     
       21. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the servicing device contains switching elements for establishing the connection of the blower portion and of the suction portion of the combined blower and suction device to associated sources of compressed air and vacuum, in an alternating cycle.